Every August, the healthcare community pauses to recognize the clinicians who bring relief, access, and compassion wherever they're needed most. National Locum Tenens Week, founded by the National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations (NALTO) in 2016, was created to honor these providers and shine a light on their essential role in care delivery across the country.

Now in its ninth year, this annual observance celebrates not the work locum tenens providers do and the difference they leave behind.

At Caliber, we believe Locum Tenens Week should be more than a weeklong celebration; it should be a spotlight on the long-term difference providers make every day. As a provider-centric organization, we know that when physicians and APPs are supported, their impact doesn’t just fill a gap, it transforms care for entire communities.

This year’s NALTO theme, “Temporary Providers, Permanent Impact,” resonates deeply with us. Because while locum assignments are sometimes measured in weeks or months, the care delivered, and the trust built can span years and touch thousands of lives.

A Vital Force in Healthcare

Each year, more than 52,000 physicians—over 5% of all U.S. doctors—choose to practice as locum tenens providers. Their impact is felt across the country, from urban emergency rooms to remote rural hospitals.

And most facilities rely on them. Over 82% of healthcare organizations use locums each year to fill essential gaps, maintain access, and ensure patients don’t go unseen or untreated.

At Caliber, our locum providers are:

• Filling 3,000+ shifts every month

• Caring for 1.51 million patients to date

• Supporting 55+ hospitals and health systems

These numbers reflect something powerful: when locum providers are supported, trusted, and empowered, they change the trajectory of care—across the country.

Provider-Centric, Always

For us, being provider-centric isn’t a talking point. It’s our north star.

We listen first. We advocate always. And we believe that trust, built through real relationships, is what turns short-term assignments into long-term impact. It’s a belief that starts at the top.

“At Caliber, we consider Locum Tenens Week an important moment—but our appreciation doesn’t begin or end here. Every week of the year, we’re committed to uplifting, advocating for, and standing beside the providers who make healthcare more accessible across the country.

Locum providers bring skill, compassion, and flexibility into every assignment, and they deserve more than recognition. They deserve partnership. That’s why we’ve built a provider-centric organization: one designed to continuously support the people at the heart of care, every day.” —Clay Walker, CEO, Caliber

That commitment shows up in every recruiter relationship, and in the long-term success of the providers we serve.

Take Dr. Prithvi Pande, a physician who began his locum journey during his final year of residency. His Caliber Recruiter remembers their early conversation well:

“We talked about what he was looking for and what mattered most to him after residency. When a role opened back home in California, we timed it so he could start right after graduation. That was almost three years ago.”

Today, Dr. Pande continues to serve patients across two hospitals, proving how locum tenens work can evolve into a lasting, meaningful career path.

“Dr. Pande and I were both new to locums during our first few phone calls. Now we’ve grown in this space together. We even share a hometown. It’s that kind of personal connection formed through listening and trust that makes my job so meaningful.”

These are the stories behind the statistics. They’re why we believe provider-centric staffing is more than good business; it’s a foundation for stronger relationships that support long-term impact.

To All Locum Tenens Providers: Thank You

You bring expertise and empathy into unfamiliar settings. You step in when others can’t. You deliver care with the same level of commitment whether you’re on assignment for a weekend or a year.

You’re not just filling a shift. You’re strengthening the healthcare system.

This Locum Tenens Week, and every week, we thank you for showing up, stepping in, and making a difference that lasts far beyond your time on site.

Looking to make an impact with your next assignment?

Let us connect you with a role that’s not just temporary—it’s transformative.